Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-15
CHATswORTH DISASTER.
Adjournment of the Coroner's Inquest
The Bodies OF the Dead Victims For.
warded to Penria-The Incendiary
Theory has no Foundation.


AiNaoos
Journal special from Chatsworth. ILL.,,
saws: Much of the excitement which has
prevailed in this city for the last three DAYS
has died out Ali tue ad, whether iienti-
Fl or not, have been shipped away. The
unidentified are being held at Peoris. Ia
addition 10 the dead all The wounded able to
be moved, except those in private houses,
have been taken from here to Peoria. Seven
however yet remain. This morning in the
building used a. a city hall and engine house,
three of them it was known would certainly
die with possibly fourth. One of these,
Mrs. Valdejo of Peoria, who was enormously
reported dead last night died this morning
Few of the wounded have as yet been re-
moved from the hospital at Piper City. 1t
had been the intention TO take those who were
able out OF there yesterday, but owing to a
Misunderstanding this was not done. Super
intendent Armstrong will attend to that some
time today.
A special TO the Inter Ocean from Forest,
says that up TO late hour SATURDAY after
noon, eigntv seven bodies had been found.
la addition 20 these three of the wounded at
Chatsworth are sure 10 die. The lists of the
wounded are necessarily incomplete, and the
full extent of the injuries will probably never
be known.
News special from Chatsworth says:
The cOroner's inquest adjourned Satur-
day, until Tuesday, after one witness had
been examined. lie was W. G. Messler,
grain dealer at Chatsworth. The only thing
notable about his evidence was the state
ment that, although lie was one of the first at
the wreck and rem aimed there until the arti-
val of the first relIet train he saw no inter
ference by any body with the vauaoles of the
victims.
CHICAGO, Aug. IA.
Times special from Champain says: J.
0. Baker, president of the Illinois society of
engineers, and protes sor of civil engineering
in the University of Illinois, returned last
night from careful Examination of the en-
gineering problems Of theCnatsworth disaster
and an examination of tre condition OF other
bridges AMI cuiverts and the protection from
fire given the cuiverts BY the road officials
and the track hands Said he:
"Fhe incendiary theory has no foundation
whatever. was unable to personally lind
any citizens of Chstsworth VINO had seen
suspicious characters lettering about The
flames OF the burning culvert were plainly
seen from Chatswor h at intervals several
hours before the accident. From the lay of
the land they must have risen five or SIX feet
above the track to be seen SO far. 1t is
plain that an attempt had been made to pro-
tect the bridges from fire. a personal IN
spection along the road for several miles
shows that the grass and weeds are not all
burned off but many patches left unburned,
and in the immediate vicinity of the accident
it was more carelessly done than elsewhere.
The cuIvert itself was of the ususl build and
of abundant strength to carry a train but tor
the fire which destroyed the lower portion.
Probably the fire left by the section men late
in the afternoon who bv their own testimony
admitted that it was burning grass only.